De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean

Havana Party

Salsa and Daiquiris in South Beach

And while Fidel continues to shuffle around in tracksuits, we pine for nights filled with sticky salsa
rhythms, the scent of sizzling pork and glasses of classic daiquiris.

Well, it's time to stop pining. Say hello to D. Rodriguez Cuba, a new slice of Havana opening
tomorrow at the Hotel Astor—and offering free drinks for the rest of the month (more on that later).

First things first: the D. in the name is for chef Douglas Rodriguez, a man whose way with ceviche earned
him a James Beard award and is credited with creating "Nuevo Latino" cuisine. For this venture, he's
focusing on his Cuban roots by providing a polished, swanky backdrop to Latin comfort food like Oxtail
Empanaditas, Chicharron Tostadas and Bacalao Fritters.

Make your way to this secluded spot on Washington, where behind tall hedges lies one of the best
courtyards in the city. Now that the weather has cooled down, you'll want a table under one of the
lantern-bedecked oak trees, where you and your salsa partner will work your way through dinner with pitchers
of Cuba libres and daiquiris made with fresh grapefruit (and without blenders).

Best of all: to get you in the mood for all this Havana nostalgia, Dougie is doling out a comped mojito or
daiquiri for first-time diners until the end of December.